A PORT schoolgirl met Scottish singing sensation Susan Boyle in the hospital that saved her life.

Stephanie Hurrell underwent major heart surgery at Yorkhill Children’s Hospital earlier this year and was invited back as part of the Queen’s Baton relay for the Commonwealth Games.

The teenager, a flag bearer in the glittering opening ceremony at Celtic Park last night, had to ask for time off from rehearsals to meet the star, right.

Stephanie, who was put up in a hotel in Glasgow for a week prior to the Games beginning, was thrilled to be asked to go along for the relay and to meet ‘Subo’ — who swept to fame after singing I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables on Britain’s Got Talent in 2009.

Stephanie’s proud mum Angela said: “Stephanie told me that Susan Boyle was a really nice person.

“She said she is quite humble as well, even though she’s so famous.” It’s not the first time the bubbly youngster has rubbed shoulders with the stars, as she also met X Factor singer Nicholas McDonald at Yorkhill shortly after her operation in January.

She met Nicholas once again when he recently performed in Greenock’s Battery Park, when the baton relay came to Inverclyde. Angela, 40, of West Woodside Avenue, Port Glasgow, said: “She was over the moon to be asked to go along to Yorkhill. It has a special place in her heart because they saved her life.” Angela and Stephanie’s dad Andrew, 43, went to the opening ceremony rehearsals on Monday and watched their daughter’s big moment on TV last night.

Angela said: “We got to see her doing her thing. I felt quite overwhelmed when I saw Stephanie coming out — I felt quite emotional.” Stephanie has been sharing a room with Kilmacolm volunteer Harriet Barr, who was also nominated to be a flag bearer.

Both girls took the flag from athletes as they did a lap of honour, and placed them on the podium.

Angela said: “Because I’m a parent and she has had health issues, I was a bag of nerves about her staying in Glasgow. But it’s been a brilliant experience. She shared with Harriet and she’s had a ball, the time of her life.

“It’s something she can do on her own, have a wee moment.

“She’s just a wee star.”